From Booklist
Kessler surveys the world of modern industrial food production and
distribution as reflected in both restaurants and grocery stores. To
his chagrin, he finds that the system foists on the American public
foods overloaded with fats, sugars, and salt. Each of these elements,
consumed in excess, has been linked to serious long-term health
problems. Kessler examines iconic foods such as Cinnabon and Big Macs,
all of which have skilled marketing machines promoting consumption.
Such nutritionally unbalanced foods propel people who already tend to
eat more than mere physical need might otherwise warrant into
uncontrolled behavior patterns of irrational eating. These persistent
psychological and sensory stimuli lead to what Kessler terms
“conditioned hypereating,” which he believes is a disease rather than a
failure of willpower. There is hope, however. Kessler identifies the
cues that lead to overeating and offers some simple, practical tools to
help control one’s impulses. --Mark Knoblauch

This is a well-written, easily understandable, interesting book on the
very serious subject of overeating. The book is broken into six parts
with relatively small chapters ranging in size from approximately three
pages to eleven pages in length with many in the four to seven page
range. The first part, for example, has 13 chapters so there is much
information but it is presented in a way which flows well together.

When I got this book I was interested in the subject matter but I
was worried that the book would be boring or so technical that I would
lose interest. I read this book in two days and it has changed my
approach to eating.

Part One of the book, Sugar, Fat, Salt, talks about why people eat
and overeat. It looks at the physical as well as psychological aspects
of overeating.

Part Two of the book (my favorite), The Food Industry, gives
specific examples of how restaurants and the food industry contribute
to the problem by creating food that people want to eat but is not
healthy. For instance I never new that bread had so much salt because
it takes away the bitter taste of the flour and brings up the flavor.
The author also addresses how nutrition information on packaging is
manipulated by the food industry. For instance if a food contains more
sugar than any other ingredient it must go first on the list but if you
use a number of sources of sugar like brown sugar, corn syrup and
fructose each is listed individually and goes lower on the list.

Part Three, Conditioned Hypereating Emerges, talks about how we get
trapped into an overeating pattern. It references numerous studies and
explores whether overeating is nature, nurture or both.

Part Four, The Theory of Treatment, talks about theoretical ways people can break the overeating habit.

Part Six, The End Of Overeating, talks about the challenges ahead
to end overeating. While it will not be easy, each individual has the
power to end his or her overeating despite roadblocks created by the
food industry or our own physical or mental makeup.

This is a great book that has started me thinking differently about
food. It is well written and the best on the subject I have ever read.

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Meet Sheryl

Hi, I'm Sheryl McGlochlin, and I love people! I believe everyone comes with plenty of baggage and it's all good! Even those who are harder to love have taught me so much about myself. I have a passion for life and I hate wasting a moment of it. I have been blessed with plenty of energy and enthusiasm. I know there is great healing power in being active outdoors surrounded by nature, and my deepest desire is to help others discover that. My faith in God and the feeling of His great love for me, my family, and my friends are what make me excited to get up each morning. I look forward to meeting you soon!